The Avengers

by Ghosty464

And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth's mightiest heroes found themselves united against a common threat! On that day, the Avengers were bornto fight the foes no single super hero could withstand!

7. Chapter 7 : Family Enterprises

Chapter 7: Family Enterprises

The front door of Avengers Mansion was thrown open with a resounding BOOM! and a muscular figure dressed in a costume of purple and black that immediately made one think of a swashbuckler bounded through the doorway, thrusting his gleaming handmade recurved folding longbow in the air over his head as he let loose with a yell of jubilation followed by: "You knew it was only a matter of time, True Believers! So face front 'cause HAWKEYE is definitely back!"

From where he stood in the doorway of the entrance to the foyer, Steve Rogers clapped, his face split in a grin so wide it hurt. He couldn't help it. Hawkeye always had that effect on him. Even though they spent most of their time bickering, arguing and disagreeing, it was a fact that over the years since he had been found by The Original Avengers and rescued from his icy tomb, Hawkeye had become like a brother to him. "I think we all get the point, Clint."

Hawkeye returned the grin and folded up his bow in two quick motions and hung it from his belt. He strode forward, pushing back his cowl to reveal a handsome, blue-eyed, blond-haired face that bore unmistakably striking similarities to Steve Rogers's own features. Both men also had similar muscular builds and were about the same height. He stuck out his hand to warmly shake Steve's. "It's the carny in me, Steve. Can't help but make a big entrance, you know that. And wouldn't you have thought something was wrong if I just drag-assed in, mumbling, 'How ya doin'?"

"You've got a point there, Clint." Steve placed a hand on Clint's shoulder. "It's good to see you again. You've been missed."

"Not so fast, Steverino. Isn't there something else you'd like to say to me before we take this Kodak moment any further?"

Steve sighed heavily. "You're not going to be satisfied until you hear me say it, are you?"

"I been waitin' years for this, pal a'mine." Clint cupped one hand behind an ear and leaned forward slightly. "C'mon.you can say it.three little words.c'mon.."

Steve rolled his eyes heavenward as if silently praying for patience and said, "Okay. Here it goes. I. Was. Wrong."

Clint thrust a long arm up into the air over his head and pulled it back down to his waist, kicking out with a leg at the same time. "YES!"

"You happy now?"

"You have no idea how much so." The two men turned toward the door as Jarvis came into the foyer. Jarvis was dressed in a brown jumpsuit with the stylized, slanted A that was the official Avengers symbol but such was the dignity and poise with which he wore the garment he might as well have been wearing his official morning suit. Upon seeing Steve he made a slight bow. "My apologies, Master Steve. I know that landing Quinjets on the front lawn is most certainly not standard operating procedure but I had no choice as access to the roof was denied to me."

Steve frowned. "Denied? By whom?"

"Why, by Master Anthony, sir. I transmitted the proper codes for clearance and Master Anthony himself answered and directed me to land on the front lawn."

Steve didn't bother asking Jarvis the reasons for Tony Stark's actions. Jarvis was the perfect butler and unless it was a life-threatening situation or if the integrity of the mansion's security was at risk, Jarvis would never dream of questioning Tony. Clint was examining Steve's face closely. "You're not surprised at all that Tony wouldn't let Jarv land on the roof. Why?"

"To be honest with you, Clint.we're all more than a little worried about Tony. He's been acting.erratic lately."

"You sure he ain't." Clint stuck out his pinky and thumb, raised his hand to his head and tipped his head back.

"No.at least I'm fairly sure he's not drinking again."

"But how would you really know? He's Tony Stark. He coulda whipped up some kinda super still in his lab that makes a new kinda booze that doesn't have an odor."

"All the more reason why we need you back, Avenger. After this mission to Asgard, Tony's going on enforced leave."

"It'll all work out, Steve. We'll make it work." Clint gestured for Steve to follow him as another muscular figure came through the doorway. "Come meet a new friend of mine."

Steve Rogers had seen more strange things in his lifetime than he had ever imagined he would see. But this was most definitely a new one. The being before him was an easy six-footer and splendidly muscled. He wore thick black jeans, motorcycle boots with spurs, a black leather motorcycle jacket over his wife beater t-shirt that was encrusted with patches on the sleeves and a loop of chain with links as thick as a human thumb dangling from one shoulder. But that wasn't the most unusual thing about this being.

Although he was humanoid, at least from the neck down, from the neck up, he had the anthromorphoric features of a kangaroo. Steve also noticed that his skin was covered in very fine gray fur. His floppy ears were standing straight up and as he took off his wraparound sunglasses, Steve could swear that his eyes were twinkling. "G'day, mate. It's more than a pleasure an' a downright honor to be meetin' the famous Captain America at last," he said around the stub of the Baccarat Belicoso cigar in the corner of his mouth or snout or whatever it was. The kangaroo man extended a hand that looked powerful enough to pulverize stone and Steve was surprised at the strength he sensed as they shook hands.

"A pleasure to meet you as well.and you can call me Steve, okay?"

"My name's Trevor Plantangenet but back in the Never Never they call me Killeroo."

Clint placed a hand on Trevor's shoulder. "Trevor's a genuine Australian superhero, Steve. He and a dozen of his buddies want to put together Australia's first genuine superteam and they contacted me through their government and asked me to come down to give them a hand."

Trevor was nodding. "We all think The Avengers are aces and well.we wanna do this right. So who better than to get an Avenger to help set things up?"

"And you couldn't have gotten any better than Hawkeye for the job, Trevor. I am curious as to why you came back here to America with Clint, though."

"It was this way, Cap'n.Clint said you had some shonky business he had to help you out with and I thought that this would be as good time as any for me to come on over and see how the pros do it up close an' personal, like. I promise I won't get in your way or interfere in Avengers business. I just want to observe. If it don't suit you to have me here then just tell me to rack off and I'll be on my way and no hard feelings."

"Not at all, Trevor. Yes, we've got an important mission coming up but The Avengers have always opened their doors to anyone who fights the good fight. And if Clint vouches for you, that's good enough for me. You're more than welcome to stay here as long as you like. Naturally there are certain sections of the mansion that will be off limits to you until we can obtain the proper clearances for you. Jarvis will see to that and he'll get you settled in your quarters."

"Thanks heaps, Cap'n. You have no idea how much this means to me."

Steve motioned to Jarvis who had been standing quietly off to one side and said, "Jarvis, I trust you'll see to Trevor's comfort?"

"Of course, Master Steve. Master Trevor and I had ample time to get acquainted on the flight back home and it will be a pleasure to accommodate him during his stay here." Jarvis motioned to Trevor. "if you'll follow me, Master Trevor.?"

As the massive bulk of Trevor Plantangenet followed Jarvis, Steve said to Clint: "Killeroo?"

"Hey, that's the name the press hung on him. Don't blame the kid."

"What's his story? Is he a mutant?" Steve and Clint fell into step as they headed for the elevator that would take them to the ultra secure main assembly room.

"Nope. He's an Inhuman, believe or not. Part of a Hidden Colony of Inhumans Black Bolt established in Australia. The kid's kinda like the sheriff of the community. He mediates disputes between The Inhumans there and he just sorta got into the superhero game as a byproduct."

"Fascinating. I'd like to hear more later on. But right now we ought to get together with the others so that we can explain to you and Hank exactly what we plan."

"Hank? Hank McCoy? The Beast? He's back on the team?"

"He sure is."

Clint threw his arm around Steve's shoulders. "It's starting to feel more and more like The Avengers are back, man. And does it ever feel good."

Tony Stark gingerly eased himself into his chair, assisted by a tall figure wearing a long brown trench coat. "Thanks. I appreciate the help."

The other man stepped back and looked at Tony with open concern. "You ought to be in a hospital, Tony. No lie, you look like reheated shit."

"And I feel worse." Tony sat back in his chair, resting his cane across his bony knees. He arraigned his legs into a more comfortable position and noticed the curious expression on his guest's face. "Something wrong?"

"Yeah. I'm trying to figure out if you just have a really great makeup man or did you use a hologram."

Tony frowned. "I'm not following you."

"I watched the launch of the Infinity on TV and I saw you being interviewed by Lisa Harms on NBC and you looked a helluva lot better on TV than you do in person. The Tony Stark I saw on TV was fifty pounds heavier, looked ten years younger and didn't use a cane."

"Oh, that!" Tony chuckled and raised his voice: "Anthony, could you come over here for a minute, please?"

"Certainly, Tony." The figure that emerged from around a corner made Tony's guest slightly jump in astonishment. Dressed in a black Armani suit that fitted his trim, athletic body with elegant grace was Tony Stark. But this was a Tony Stark greatly different from the one who sat in the chair. This Tony Stark had deeply tanned skin. His jet-black hair was thick and virile. His eyes sparkled with vitality and intelligence. He radiated charm with the easy smile he gave Tony's visitor. "We've got company, I see."

Tony's guest had recovered from his initial shock and he walked closer to the standing Tony Stark who stood patiently as Tony's guest walked around him, examining him closely.

"Well, I'll be damned. I've heard of them for years, of course but this is the first time I've ever seen one in person. It's an LMD, right?"

Tony nodded. "This particular model has been doubling for me for about three years now. I call him Anthony. He was at the launch of the Infinity, not me. Anthony, you can go back to downloading the data from the launch. I'll review it later. Then return to your hibernation couch and initiate downtime mode."

"Sure thing, Tony." The LMD winked at Tony's guest. "Catch you later."

Tony's guest watched the LMD walk away as he said; "Incredible. And in three years nobody has ever suspected that that wasn't you?"

"No. The LMD is programmed with my own brain engrams. In essence it is me."

Tony's guest frowned slightly. "Now that's scary."

Tony shrugged. "You're a man of science. I wouldn't expect you to have that attitude."

"I'm also a man who knows his limitations. Something that you obviously don't. But that's your own little red wagon to pull. But I am curious about something: as much work as you put into the Infinity I would have figured you'd be charging off into space to find it yourself when she vanished."

"Jim Rhodes and Scott Lang are aboard her and if I don't think there's any two more capable men of handling whatever situation has developed. I trust them to bring Infinity and her crew home safe and sound. Besides, I'm going to see the Asgard mission through and then I'm going to retire the armor and concentrate on restoring The Vision."

"You're not going to pass on the armor to somebody else?"

Tony shook his head firmly, waved at his guest with a trembling hand for him to take a seat. The other man did so. They were in Sub-Basement Level Two that contained a number of secure labs that had been used for weapons testing and storage by Tony's father, the eccentric yet undeniably brilliant Howard Stark. Long ago Tony had most of the storage areas refurbished into laboratories for his own purposes. This was the most secure of the labs as there was no access to it by anyone else except for Tony. His visitor had arrived by a pre-programmed Quinjet that Tony had sent to pick him up and it had landed on the rooftop landing pad. Tony had denied Jarvis landing on the roof, as Tony did not want any one else to know his visitor was there or his identity.

"No. Not this time. That never works out the way I hope it will and sooner or later I end up climbing back into the armor anyway. But it's not like I'm totally divorcing myself from Avengers business. I'll be around. I do pay for this team's operations, after all. This is a good opportunity to make sure my money's being well spent." Tony grinned through his two-day stubble of beard. "But let's talk about you. I appreciate you coming on such short notice."

Tony's guest shrugged broad shoulders. "I owe Hank Pym and The Avengers was the closest thing he had to family. I guess that makes you guys my family as well. If there's anything I can do to help out, I'd like to."

"I outlined the situation while you were flying over here in the Quinjet. You know what's at stake here?"

"I do."

"And you're okay with it? We're not just going to fight HYDRA or The Masters Of Evil, you know. We're talking about Asgard. We're going up against the gods."

Tony's guest shrugged again. "Only one God I know of, Tony and I'll stand on his Word to get me through. I am curious about something, though. You said you wanted me to be your 'secret weapon'. I though The Hulk was your secret weapon?"

Tony frowned. "The Hulk is Steve and Jan's secret weapon. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if The Hulk turned on us. In which case, we can leave him behind on Asgard and let him be their problem for a change."

"Then why did you agree to letting him rejoin the team?"

"Because the more spells and Frost Giants and Valkyries and who knows what all else they throw at The Hulk, that's less crap being thrown at the rest of us. So while Loki or whoever is behind this is trying to kill The Hulk, that'll give us time to pull off one of our patented last minute save-the-universe maneuvers."
The grin returned to Tony's face. "Either way would be okay with me."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Do what you do best. I want you at the briefing I'm going to right now. Out of sight, of course. We'll be getting ready to leave for Asgard after that. Accommodations have been made for you. Hope you ate on the flight. Can't say when you'll get your next meal."

"Worse comes to worse I guess I'll have to find the Asgardian equivalent of a McDonald's."

"Keep up that sense of humor. You're going to need it."

The Assembly Room's massive nine-ton circular hatch like door hissed open as massive hydraulics worked, swinging the door wide and allowing Steve Rogers and Clint Barton to enter. The first one to run and leap into Clint's arms was Janet Van Dyne. "Oh, Clint, I can't begin to tell you how GOOD it is that you're back!"

"Hey, hey, take it easy, pretty lady. You'd think I returned from the dead or something!" Clint returned her fierce hug. He stepped back and his voice was uncharacteristically quiet and somber as he said: "how you holdin' up, Jan? Tell me the truth, now. You know that I know better than anybody else here what you've been through." Indeed he did. Every time Clint thought he had finally put the pain of losing his wife, the Avenger known as Mockingbird, his memories would prove him wrong.

Jan smiled up at him with that brave smile Clint knew so well. "I'm functioning, Clint. Some days are harder than others. But Hank wouldn't want me to wallow in my own grief. I'm going to carry on like he would want me to."

"And speaking of Hanks." Clint turned as Hank McCoy sprang from his chair, executed a triple somersault and landed in front of him.

"Hiya, Hawkeye! Greetings and salutations and all that. How were things Down Under?"

"Just fine, Hank. I brought somebody along you oughta have a blast getting' to know." Clint finished shaking Hank's hand as Thor walked over and the two men clasped forearms in the time-honored warrior's salute.

"I thank thee for returning so quickly, Clinton."

"Ahhhh, you know that I'm a sucker for sentiment, Thor. I-what the HELL!" Clint jumped backwards as Huginn and Muninn flew from their perch on the back of Thor's chair to land on his shoulders and as one, their long beaks opened and they screeched, "Long Live THOR, Lord of Asgard!"

"Thor, you wanna tell me why you've got a pair of buzzards on your shoulders screaming at me?" Clint had instinctively unfolded his bow and had an arrow nocked all in the space of a single heartbeat. The gleaming triangular head of the arrow was pointed at Huginn, who was on Thor's left shoulder.

"Stay thy arrow, Clinton. Not that it would harm them. These be my father's ravens. Huginn and Muninn. They be under a foul enchantment and so they believe my honored father Odin to be dead. Therefore they must proclaim my new title to all."

"Long Live THOR, Lord of Asgard!"

Clint reluctantly put his arrow away. "I can see where that could get on a guy's nerves pretty quick."

Steve chuckled; "You have no idea. Tony's the only one who's put a scare into them. They stay clear of him when he's in the room."

Clint turned his attention to the slim, quiet man who sat at the table, quietly drinking herbal tea. He walked closer and took a good look at him. "Well, boil me for a Badoon. When they told me you were rejoining the team I honestly didn't know if they'd gone crazy or if you had."

Bruce Banner put down his cup and said with a thin smile, "Good to see you, too, Hawkeye. Been a long time."

"Not long enough." Tony Stark muttered as he entered the Assembly Room, leaning heavily on his cane. "Hello, Clint."

"Tony." Clint nodded. "Heard you're not doing so well these days."

"I do all right." Tony painfully walked across the room and sat opposite from Bruce Banner. He barely acknowledged his presence with a nod and a simple: "Bruce."

"Tony."

Steve rapped the huge round table with the stylized, slanted A to get attention. "Let's bring this briefing to order, please. Take your seats and we'll get started."

The Avengers took their places and Steve looked around at their faces before continuing: "All of you have been apprised of the situation. Apparently there's serious trouble in Asgard and Thor has to return home to see for himself what's wrong. There's considerable evidence that Loki is involved and if so, we're going to back Thor up all the way. The team going to Asgard will be comprised of Thor, naturally. Myself, Tony, Jan and Bruce. Clint, you and Hank will-"

"I didn't come halfway across the world to just sit this fight out, Steve!" Clint yelped, jumping to his feet. "You said you needed help and I came to help!"

Hank reached out a massive paw and rested it on Clint's arm. "Softly, dear compatriot, softly! The esteemed Captain has sagacity beyond reason in his planning, if you but give him a moment."

"Thanks, Hank. And yes, Clint, I do have good reasons for wanting you and Hank to stay behind."

"Okay," Clint grumbled as he resumed his seat. "As the jackass said when he looked in the mirror: 'I'm all ears'."

"First and foremost, it would be worse than gross negligence for all of us to go to Asgard. It would be stupidity. There's no telling what we're going to run into when we arrive and there's got to be somebody here who can either put together a rescue team to come get us or organize a squad to defend Earth if Loki or whoever decides on a pre-emptive strike against Earth itself. I can't think of any two Avengers I'd trust more with either task than Hawkeye and The Beast." Steve looked directly into Clint's eyes as he spoke and the sheepish bowman was forced to lower his eyes in embarrassment. "And there's another job I want the two of you to work on as well." Steve paused for a second to collect his thoughts before continuing.

"There's simply no way The Avengers can continue to operate as we have been. The Avengers require a full roster and that means seven active Avengers and two reserves. Tony won't be serving as Iron Man after this mission. I'll still be here and so will Jan. What about you, Thor?"

"It will depend on what we find in Asgard, Steven," Thor said in that rumbling voice that sounded like thunder in high icy mountains. "Mayhap I may be forced to stay in The Golden Realm, especially if aught is amiss with The All-Father."

"Which means that we're going to need a pool of Avengers to fill out a proper roster when we get back. Which is what I want you and Hank to do, Clint. Contact every one who ever was an Avenger and get us a full roster."

Clint nodded. "Okay, Steve. I getcha. And don't worry, we won't let you down. Right, Hank?"

"Indeed not." Hank McCoy's blue-furred face turned toward Steve. "But make no mistake, we will not wait for long. If we haven't heard from you in a reasonable amount of time, we will be coming after you."

"Which brings up another point," Tony spoke up. "How long should Clint and Hank wait before rounding up the posse?"

"I'd say 48 hours is long enough. Right, Thor?" Steve looked at The Thunder God who sat with massive arms folded across his chest.

"Aye! This will not be a mission of stealth and subterfuge! We shall boldly stride into Asgard with heads held high and our war cry ringing from our lips!"

"And hopefully don't get our brains bashed in by Trolls or eaten The Fenris Wolf," Tony muttered. "So how does the rescue team get to Asgard?"

"I will leave Huginn and Muninn behind in the care of Jarvis," Thor said. "I have already informed them of what they must need do if and when the time comes."

Steve resumed his briefing. "Once we're on Asgard, we'll take our cue from Thor. It's his home, his mission, so he's in charge. If it comes down to a battle, let Thor take the point while the rest of us provide backup." Steve looked over at Bruce Banner who had been quietly sipping his tea. "As for The Hulk.how much in control of him are you, Bruce?"

A thin echo of a laugh barely escaped Bruce's lips. "Control, Steve? There's no such thing where The Hulk is concerned. Let's say that control isn't the right word. Perhaps it would be best to say that I'll try to reach an agreement with him where this is concerned."

"That's just not good enough, Bruce," Tony said. "I don't intend to take on half of Asgard and then end up having to fight The Hulk as well. You're simply going to have to do better than that."

Bruce shrugged carelessly. "Nothing in life is guaranteed, Tony. I would have thought that you more than anybody else in this room would realize that."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"That means that the two of us have seen more upheavals, setbacks, personal, physical and psychological breakdowns than anybody else here. You think I don't know the reason why you didn't want me brought back on the team? You don't like having me around. Too much like looking in a mirror, Tony?"

"You go to hell, Banner. I didn't want you back because you're unpredictable and dangerous. I might as well strap a ticking gamma bomb to my ass because taking you along on this mission amounts to the same thing."

"I want the both of you to settle down. Now." The voice of Steve Rogers was an impressive weapon in it's own right when he used it in the manner he did now. It cut through the tension in the room and before either man knew what they were doing, they had immediately fallen silent. "Tony, I don't know what your problem with Bruce is-"

"-you mean outside of the fact that his alter ego has almost killed everybody in this room at least a half dozen times? Now why on God's green Earth would you even think THAT would be a problem?"

"-but the decision was made to invite Bruce back on the team. And you agreed. So I suggest you leave that attitude here at the table because there's no room for it on this or any mission."

"Fine by me." Tony struggled to his feet. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to secure The Vision and then get into my armor."

"You need any help?" Hank sprang from his seat onto the table. "I'd be most happy to-"

"No thank you, Hank. I appreciate the offer but I'd rather do it myself." Tony limped to the door and was gone, leaving behind his mystified teammates.

Clint whistled low and long in surprise. "I see what you mean, Steve. That's not the Tony Stark I know. When was the last time he had a shower and a shave?"

"Who knows? He stays shut in his lab for hours on end doing God knows what and the only reason he comes out of there is because Jarvis goes in and gets him and makes him come out to eat and wash up."

"And he's been wearing the chest plate again," Janet added. "Remember years ago when he had the shrapnel lodged in his chest and he needed the chest plate to make sure it didn't puncture his heart?"

"But he had that shrapnel removed. He doesn't need the chest plate anymore. So why is he wearing it?" Clint asked. Neither Jan or Steve could answer. Clint looked at Hank McCoy who was stroking his chin with a taloned hand. "What do you think, Hank?"

"What makes you think I think anything, O Amazing Amir of Archery?"

"You're an egghead. You eggheads are always thinkin'. It's what you do. You're thinkin' something about Tony. Spill."

"I'm no psychologist as you all well know. My field is biochemistry. But it doesn't take a PhD in psychology to see that Tony Stark is one deeply troubled individual."

Clint grunted, unconvinced. "I still say he's back on the sauce."

"Oh, not at all." Hank tapped his flat, broad nose. "My senses are extraordinarily acute, Clint. I can tell that you had corned beef hash, scrambled eggs with cheese and turkey sausage for breakfast this morning, right?" The look of astonishment on Clint's face was validation enough. Hank chuckled at his friend's expression as he continued; "If Tony had so much as a thimbleful I'd be able to tell. No, our Mr. Stark has most certainly not returned to imbibing the demon rum."

"I almost wish he was drinking again," Jan said slowly. "At least that would be something physical we could get a handle on. If Tony's having psychological problems."

"Then we shall provide Anthony with all the assistance of which we are capable of, Janet," Thor said. "Steven, would this not be a suitable time to ask Dr. Leonard Samson for his assistance?"

"That's a good idea, Thor, but it's one we'll have to address when we get back from Asgard." Steve looked around at The Avengers. "You all know Tony Stark. You've known him as long as I have.some of you even longer. He's one of the best men I know and he's never let the team down and I don't expect him to do it now. He'll be fine. Now, Janet and Bruce, I suggest you get whatever personal business you have squared away because we leave for Asgard in an hour."

Jarvis looked on as The Avengers assembled on the side lawn located to the rear and the left of the mansion. Tony Stark was now wearing the Mark VIII version of his Iron Man armor and he appeared to be deep in thought, running diagnostic checks on his systems. Killeroo was standing off to one side with The Beast and they appeared to be hitting it off quite well. Captain America was apparently giving some last minute instructions to Hawkeye who for once was listening quietly without interruption. The Wasp was talking quietly with Bruce Banner and Thor. Spying the loyal butler, Thor boomed, "Hail, faithful Jarvis! Hast thou come to take charge of Huginn and Muninn?"

"Yes, Lord Thor."

Hawkeye grinned. "Good luck, buddy. Those buzzards look like they eat barbed wire for breakfast. Are you sure that-"

Jarvis spoke a sharp command in a language that was unfamiliar to The Avengers but obviously one that Huginn and Muninn knew because they flew immediately from Thor's shoulders to perch on Jarvis's outstretched arms.

"I'll be a monkey's uncle-" Hawkeye mumbled.

"Isn't that my trademarked line?" The Beast demanded with an amiable grin.

Hawkeye waved him to silence. "Hush up, you! What did you say to 'em, Jarv? And what was that you were speaking?"

"I merely bid the ravens to heed their appointed guardian and come to me. Naturally I spoke In High Andidl, which is the language spoken by the gods of Asgard."

"YOU speak Asgardian?" Killeroo asked. "I'll be gobsmacked!"

Jarvis smiled at the young Inhuman and replied. "In addition to speaking a dozen Earth languages I am also fluent in Asgardian, Atlantean, five Wakandan dialects and conversational Subterranean. Lord Thor taught me High Andidl some years ago when I had the privilege of tending his goats."

Killeroo frowned. "Goats?"

Thor growled, "Aye. Goats." He turned to his fellow Avengers. "It be time, comrades. Stand thee with me in a circle with thy backs inward. "

Captain America, The Wasp, Bruce Banner and Iron Man did as they were instructed and Thor raised Mjolnir high over his head and began spinning it, holding onto the well-worn thong. The wing began to pick up and muted thunder rumbled overhead.

"Keep the faith, guys!" Hawkeye shouted as a cone of shimmering energy poured from the spinning hammer and slowly descended, obscuring The Avengers from sight. The earth trembled as a roaring thunderbolt appeared to leap upwards from the ground inside the shimmering golden cone of energy and erupted into the sky with a huge KRAKA-BOOM!

And The Avengers were gone.

A burst of pure energy blazed on the sparkling surface of Bifrost, The Rainbow Bridge, made of cunning magic arts that defied reason and The Avengers appeared. They looked around them in wonderment.

Behind them, Bifrost appeared as a multicolored curving ribbon that arced off into space. Around them, the stars and suns blazed in a gorgeous spectacle that was unlike anything the mortals had ever seen before. Stars of such beauty and such color that it made their eyes ache. But that would pass soon. Captain America adjusted his shield on his arm and said; "Thor? Not to question your tactics but wouldn't it have been better to have materialized right in the city itself?"

"Aye! That was my purpose, in truth! Out here on The Rainbow Bridge we are open to attack!" Thor looked at his war hammer in puzzlement. "Naught but the sacred word of The All-Father can change the enchantments laid on Mjolnir.that or."

"Or what?"

'If our unseen foe be he Loki or someone else has laid claim to The Odin Ring and possesses it, the power of the ring can be turned against my hammer."

"That's just great," Bruce Banner muttered. "The strongest weapon we have and we can't even count on that." He looked upwards, where Iron Man hovered in the star-splashed sky several hundred feet above The Rainbow Bridge. The other end of the bridge arced upwards toward what appeared to be a flat asteroid hanging among the stars, with gigantic swirling nebulas that were whirlpools of multicolored incandescence behind it.

And shining like the most magnificent jewel in a stellar crown was The Golden Realm of Asgard. Dire as their situation was, the hearts of The Avengers beat faster as they looked upon that fabled city out of legend.

Iron Man's amplified voice snapped them out of their wonderment. "Look alive, Avengers! Three bogies coming at us fast from the city!"

"Can you make them out?" Captain America demanded. He was surprised at how quickly the three shapes were approaching them. Flying in a triangular formation they looked like giant, monstrous bats whose wings propelled them forward with frightening speed.

"Can you make them out, Thor?" The Wasp asked, shrinking down to six inches and flying over to The Thunder God who was fiercely examining the three figures who sat on the backs of the giant bats.

"Aye.just barely.but I do not believe mine own eyes!"

The giant bats were closer now and The Avengers could see the three forms that sat on the backs of the beasts. Three men in ornate, baroque armor. And on each of their metal chests they bore talismans of stone carved in the shape of laughing faces. And they were laughing, along with the men in armor.

"At last you have come home to die, Odinson! And die you and your companions shall! At the hands of THE ENCHANTERS!"

"Well, this isn't going the way we planned, now is it?" Bruce asked sarcastically.

"You just get mad or whatever it is you have to do and get Hulked up, mister! Jan, hang back with me! Thor, Iron Man, take the fight to them!"

"Aye, mortals! Bring the fight to us! The faster that we may bring about thy deaths!"

The Enchanters dived toward The Rainbow Bridge on their giant bats, which screeched with bloodlust, greenish ribbons of foul drool trailing from their open jaws as jagged bolts of magical energy burst from the hands of The Enchanters and sizzled through the air right at The Avengers.